STEELSMITH, Michael H. 1835-1916

STEELSMITH, JORDAN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/25/2016 at 17:11:53

Conrad lost another one of its highly honored and respected citizens when M. H. Steelsmith passed away on Feb. 24, at his home in Conrad. Mr. Steelsmith lived to be over 80 years old. Several weeks ago he was taken ill with a severe attack of grip and this soon passed into more serious and fatal complications. The funeral was held at the home on Sunday afternoon and was attended by a large gathering of friends. Rev. Mr. Carson, of the Presbyterian church, had charge of the service and was assisted by Rev. Mr. Stubbs of the M.E. church.

Michael Henry Steelsmith was born in Slippinville, Pa., Aug. 9, 1835. In early life his parents moved to Moboring county and later to Defiance county, Ohio, where he taught school until the breaking out of the civil war when he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He received three flesh wounds and in July 1865 was honorably discharged at Salisbury, N.C.

At the close of the war he returned to Ohio, where he was married to Miss Nancy Jane Jordan on Nov. 23, 1865. Eight children were born of this union. He came to Iowa in April 1866, and settled on a farm in Felix township, Grundy county. He left the farm in 1899, moving to Conrad, where he lived to the time of his death, except for a few months at various times spent in Oregon. He was taken sick Feb. 2 and passed away on Feb. 24, at 4 p.m., aged 80 years, 6 months. He is survived by his wife and five children, viz: Charles E., of Portland, Ore.; George L., of Drain, Ore.; Robert Bruce, of Shriver, Mont.; Daniel Clarence, of Melvin, Iowa; and Mrs. Nellie C. Graves, of Ocheyedon, Iowa.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 March 1916, pg 1